Chapter 2: He Isn’t This Patient With Others

Morning self-study in senior year was always very quiet.

So quiet that even the sound of flipping pages seemed harsh.

Gu Nian lay on her desk, forehead pressed against the cool surface, her mind foggy from the aftereffects of a sleepless night.

She closed her eyes and fumbled in her backpack.

“Lu Chen.”

The voice was soft, but certain.

“Hand me the math test paper.”

Two seconds later, a paper was gently placed beside her.

The corner was pressed flat, without a single crease.

Gu Nian didn’t open her eyes, but the corner of her mouth curved into a small smile.

She had known—he would give it to her.

“Thank you, Lu Chen-gege.”
She deliberately dragged out the tone.

“Gu Nian.”
He lowered his voice. “Call me that again and I’ll take your paper away.”

She immediately went quiet.

When she opened her eyes, they landed on his profile as he bent over writing.

The sunlight from the window fell across his brow—it looked really good.

She stared a little too long.

“What are you looking at?” Lu Chen didn’t lift his head.

“Looking at you… you’re handsome.” She blurted it out.

For a brief second, the classroom went silent.

Someone in the back row clicked their tongue.

Gu Nian suddenly realized what she’d said, and her face flamed red.

“I-I mean—”

“Focus on your work.”
He nudged his pen toward her paper, voice so low only she could hear. “Don’t tease me.”

Gu Nian: ……

She lowered her head, but her heart was racing.

During the second-period break, the class erupted.

“Lu Chen, someone’s looking for you!”

At the door stood a girl from the next class, high ponytail tied, arms full of books.

Gu Nian glanced up, then looked back down.

She didn’t know why, but a strange feeling rose in her chest.

When Lu Chen stood up, he tightened the lid of Gu Nian’s water cup for her.

Such a natural movement.

She froze for a moment.

“I’ll be back soon,” he said to her.

His tone sounded almost like giving instructions.

Gu Nian nodded. “Okay.”

But the girl’s gaze at her was clearly unfriendly.

As soon as Lu Chen left, someone leaned over.

“Gu Nian, aren’t you worried?”

“Worried about what?”

“Lu Chen.”
Her deskmate lowered her voice. “So many people in the school are watching him.”

Gu Nian’s pen paused.

“He’s not mine anyway,” she said.

But her voice had no confidence.

Ten minutes later, Lu Chen returned.

The girl didn’t come in.

“What did she want?” Gu Nian asked casually.

“To ask about homework,” he said.

“Oh.”

“I told her to go ask the teacher instead.”

Gu Nian looked up.

“You don’t have to explain yourself.”

Lu Chen looked at her for two seconds.

“I know,” he said. “But I don’t want you overthinking things.”

She froze.

Her heart completely out of control.

At lunch, Gu Nian ate slowly.

Lu Chen sat across from her and picked up the vegetables she didn’t like.

“You’re favoring me,” she said.

“I do this for everyone.”

“Not true.”
She lifted her eyes to him. “You’re not this patient with others.”

Lu Chen paused mid-motion.

Then, he smiled.

A smile almost invisible.

“Caught me.”

At that moment, Gu Nian suddenly realized—
The care he showed her was never out of habit.

It was a choice.